Milliner of Kintail

10/24/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CUWvG4GHe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/04/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Awc3iD6DF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/07/2022

The time and creativity to make a bespoke hat might surprise you. Sinamay hats like the one I made below for a wonderful customer are blocked in layers to give it shape and strength. 3 layers is common for these larger brims.
It is often cheaper to buy a ready made hat than to have one specially made. If you are into hats, you know this already. As my mentor, Karyn Ruiz at Lilliput Hats says “no one ever regrets buying quality” or something like that😁
I love the process and tactile nature of it all but I am taking a break. It’s okay, I’m happy. Let me explain…
When the pandemic started and shows got cancelled, material and shipping prices also went up. Close contact (fittings), also a challenge during lockdowns. I couldn’t sit on my hands so decided to hang my hat on this business to get some stability and structure.
My artist studio is now also a vintage shop, Almonte Vintage and is giving me the structure to keep going no matter what craziness comes this way. All that to say, if you have bespoke millinery needs, I highly recommend Ranelle in Perth who owns Queen Bee Millinery. She has been hard at work since day one and has a fantastic sense of style.
I have lots of nice vintage hats in my shop but am no longer taking custom orders.
Thanks for listening❤️

09/18/2022

Lots of ready-to-wear vintage hats available.

09/06/2021

Here is the beautiful recipient of a hat I worked on earlier this summer. It is a lot of fun to bring ideas to life, working in collaboration with family members to make a gift extra thoughtful. Her sister just shared this photo and gave me permission to use it.

07/13/2021

You might be interested in a snapshot of the hat making process https://www.facebook.com/113680833692833/posts/339412137786367/?d=n

07/12/2021

Here is a picture of the finished hat. This was a custom order that was inspired by the input of several of the recipients family members. It was a concept that grew into a finished piece with some improvisation and just the right materials. I love how it turned out and thankfully the customer did as well.

07/01/2021

Traditional millinery can be a challenge when sourcing materials ethically. Feathers, fur felts, chemical carcinogenic stiffeners…
I make it a priority to think before I create anything. I’ve learned a lot along this journey and met some incredible people that share materials with me. I got a message this morning that someone’s cat killed a woodpecker and she thought I could use it’s feathers. She is correct, aren’t they beautiful?

06/20/2021

I have many Anita Pineault hats in my collection and they stand out far above the rest for being top-notch quality. I researched her today and copied the following from the internet. I felt compelled to pay homage to this incredible designer.

“The oldest of nine siblings, Anita Chouinard was born in Quebec in 1917. Her last name was changed to Pineault when she married. When he left to serve in Europe during World War II Anita took a job with the Montreal firm Nadel Hat. Her talent was quickly realized by owner Teddy Nadel and she was soon promoted to design for the company.

Anita launched her own company in the 1950s and, with high standards, built a successful international business, exporting hats to New York and making hats for designer collections. In later years she launched a line of scarves. In the late 1980s she sold her company to European interests and retired to Kingston Ontario. She passed away at the age of 92 on January 20, 2009.

Thanks to themerchantsofvintage for finding an obit that opened research doors!”
This entry was posted in Canadian dress, millinery by Jonathan. Bookmark the permalink.

06/15/2021

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted. I’m working on a sinamay cloche custom order. I just finished steaming, stretching and pinning the first layer. I’ll let this dry and do another layer across the grain of the first. This is a lovely, lightweight and elegant fabric made from the leaves of the abaca plant in the Philippines. It takes a while to build the structure but the end results are fit for the Queen or high tea or anywhere else you feel like dressing up. I’ll post the finished hat after it’s delivered to the recipient.

01/16/2021

Available now in my Etsy shop, free shipping!

Sale! Buy 2 or more items from my shop and receive 20% off your entire order! Steam blocked Italian straw. Beautiful deep plum/Bordeaux Fascinator with feather and rose accents. Matching Russian veiling adds a fun touch to this classic Royal style. Stays securely in place at any jaunty angle you

11/03/2020

Found this photo from a few years ago, making my first sinamay straw hat. I’ve had many wonderful teachers yet I always feel like I’m just beginning to learn this art.